Korean grammar · Level 4 · 4급
-았/었을 텐데
Would have… (but didn't)
The past version looks back at a result that never came: “it would have been…”. It often pairs with -았/었더라면, and on its own it carries a small sigh of regret. It can also be a guess about something that has probably already happened: “they must have arrived by now”.
| When | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| regret: it didn't happen | -았/었더라면 … -았/었을 텐데 | 알았더라면 갔을 텐데요 |
| guess about the past | -았/었을 텐데 | 지금쯤 도착했을 텐데요 |
Examples
알았더라면 호떡을 샀을 텐데요.
If I'd known, I'd have bought hotteok.
택시를 탔더라면 벌써 도착했을 텐데요.
If we'd taken a taxi, we'd have arrived by now.
소리쌤도 오셨으면 좋았을 텐데요.
It would have been nice if you'd come too, Sori-ssaem.
Practise it in context · Level 4, Unit 1
If I won the lottery
A dialogue with audio, practice that checks itself, Hoya’s mistakes, a reading and a writing task.
Open the unit →